Thoughtfully Crafted
All of our home designs are thoughtfully crafted, taking the individual customer’s lifestyle into careful consideration.
Want To Talk About Building A Custom Home?
Fill out the Custom Home Inquiry
Our Process
Since building a custom home is one of the most important investments you will ever make, we understand the importance of having faith in your builder throughout the entire building process, and we are here to earn your trust. We cut no corners, and no compromise is made in ensuring the quality and craftsmanship in each home we build.
We also know that no two families are exactly alike, so we take the time to get to know you, incorporating your lifestyle and personality into your home. Throughout the design and building process, your opinion and satisfaction are our top priorities. Whether you decide to select every last detail that goes into your home, or if you just want to sit back and allow us to use our expertise while you simply approve choices, you are in control.
1. Initial Meeting
We carefully listen to the customer’s plans and desires and have a “no problem” attitude towards any feature you could imagine in your home and welcome unique challenges when meeting our customer’s needs. After the initial discussion about the size, location, and general features of the home, we estimate a general budget range for the project. This figure is not a bid but is very helpful in determining the customer’s ability to obtain financing. We work with several lenders and are happy to refer you to the one that will best suit your needs.
2. Architectural Design
Whether you have a set of working drawings completed by a professional designer, or pen scratch on a napkin, we can take your vision on paper or in your mind and turn it into reality. The design process usually starts with a floor plan, and then exterior elevations follow. We work with local professional designers to bring these plans to life.
All of our home designs are thoughtfully crafted, taking the individual family’s lifestyle into consideration. We understand how details such as traffic patterns, sightlines, natural light, and room placement all play essential roles in a family’s experience, and we pay careful attention to such details. We take into account your daily life so you end up with a home that matches your lifestyle.
3. Construction Contract
We create a completed set of construction drawings, including details and project specifications. We then work with our subcontractors and vendors to come up with an exact project bid. Construction can begin when you approve the plans, specs, and bid.
4. Construction Process
This is where you get to watch your vision become reality. We welcome involvement from our families during the construction process, and we make every effort to stay available by phone and email. We frequently meet families at the job site at their convenience in order to discuss the project and their concerns.
5. Selections
The selection process can be very enjoyable, but can also become tedious and overwhelming. To maximize efficiency, we create an allowance schedule, typical for a home that is the size and price range of your home, and include it in the project specifications. You may choose to approve the original allowance schedule, or you are welcome to work directly with vendors and designers of your choice to customize the selections based on your desires and budget. Since the timing of making your selections is an important factor that can affect the overall duration of the project, we create a timeline to guide you in finalizing your choices.
Change Orders
We provide plenty of detailed information for our customers through drawings, specifications, and thorough discussions before construction begins. However, we know that design changes often occur during construction. We will quickly provide you with the cost to make the change so you can easily make an informed decision.
Warranty
Our goal is to build you a home that you love and one that enhances your family’s daily life for years to come. Standing behind our commitment to the quality performance of each home we build is an area where we place great emphasis. Your new home comes with a Texas Association of Builders New Home Warranty. This includes one year “bumper-to-bumper” coverage for all craftsmanship and materials, two years on plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning delivery systems, and ten years for major structural components of the home. We understand that being faithful to our customers is not only the right thing to do but is mutually beneficial in the long run.
Move-In Ready
All the same processes as a “Custom Build,” just without the customer at the time of construction. We seek to build beautiful homes that are not only attractive in all aspects of design but highly functional for almost any family and MOVE-IN READY. At Merrill Builders, we are always building new and exciting Move-In Ready homes for sale. We incorporate the latest styles and trends in our designs as well, as every MB home is backed by our industry-leading home warranty. Take some time to look at the homes we currently have available. We might just have your dream home waiting for you.
Hybrid Build
This is a Merrill Builder’s home under construction that you get to have input in the finished product. Again, all the same processes as a “Custom Build” to ensure that every home is built with high standards and exceptional craftsmanship.
The Hybrid Build option allows you to select one of our home designs or homes currently under construction that meets the needs of size and location, then allows you to make selections such as paint color, countertops, flooring, etc. Input and choices are dependent on the stage of construction.
Contact us for a list of homes currently under construction or to set up a meeting in order to look over the different design options we offer.